Just five weeks after their triumph in the Club World Cup, Chelsea returned to competitive action at Stamford Bridge. Despite celebratory banners adorning their stadium, the Blues` performance was a stark contrast to their previous impressive 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, culminating in a lethargic 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace – a result that accurately mirrored their uninspired play.
Several external factors likely contributed to Chelsea`s subpar display. The Club World Cup severely disrupted pre-season schedules for European clubs that advanced far in the competition. For instance, Enzo Maresca`s squad endured an 11-month season, followed by a mere three-week break and only 13 days of pre-season training before their match against Palace, who, conversely, enjoyed a standard preparation period. While Maresca outwardly dismissed the idea of under-preparation, the challenging circumstances were undeniably apparent.
Manager Maresca, however, downplayed any notion of his team being unprepared, stating, “I don`t think [the team was unprepared] because, until the end, we competed. We tried to win the game. I think we had some chances at the end with Estevao, with Andrey Santos. So that showed that probably we compete overall quite good.” He acknowledged Crystal Palace`s advantage of having played “seven, eight games” already, compared to Chelsea`s two pre-season matches where minutes were shared. Maresca concluded optimistically, “So the real game for us was today. But for sure, slowly, slowly we`re going to be better.”
Despite their initial stumble, Chelsea has a clear path for improvement as they prepare to face West Ham United on Friday at the London Stadium – an ideal chance to move past Sunday`s performance. While Crystal Palace presented a well-organized defensive challenge, the Hammers are expected to be less formidable. West Ham`s recent 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland hints at potential struggles for a team that has seen minimal squad rejuvenation this summer and appears to have limited attacking prowess.
On Sunday, Chelsea exhibited clear attacking dominance, outshooting Palace 19 to 11 and generating significantly more expected goals. However, this was more a display of quantity over quality, as the Blues managed only three shots on target – an unsatisfactory return regardless of pre-season disruptions. This match served as a potent reminder that, despite recent successes like the Club World Cup and the UEFA Europa Conference League, Enzo Maresca`s Chelsea, while brimming with potential, remains an enigmatic entity.
Maresca oversees a vast squad abundant with attacking talent, yet he has not definitively settled on his optimal forward combination. Given the context, particularly an ownership group keen on acquiring new players, it`s comprehensible that the manager is still refining his strategy. While Cole Palmer has solidified his place as a regular starter, many other attacking positions appear to be fiercely contested.
Establishing Chelsea`s preferred attacking lineup has been an ongoing challenge throughout Maresca`s leadership. The Club World Cup campaign, however, introduced significant new context with the arrival of several new players. Liam Delap, who opted for Chelsea despite widespread European interest, started the summer tournament. Yet, by the time the trophy was within reach, Joao Pedro had integrated into the squad, joining midway through the competition, scoring three goals in three games – including one in the final – and earning a starting spot against Palace on Sunday.
Leading a 4-2-3-1 formation alongside Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Jamie Gittens on the wings, Joao Pedro`s performance was unremarkable. He registered only two shots in 73 minutes, reminiscent of his modest output during his time at Brighton and Hove Albion. This uninspiring outing for Chelsea may, however, create an opportunity for Delap to secure a starting position. Additionally, 18-year-old Estevao Willian, who made a 36-minute cameo on Sunday, could potentially play a significant role this season.
Consequently, Friday`s clash against West Ham emerges as a crucial `audition` for Chelsea`s aspiring first-choice attackers, all vying for a spot and tasked with helping the Blues fulfill the high expectations set last season.
